Qian Hui nodded faintly, his breath hitching as he inhaled Nan Tingjian's scent again. Though the man's appearance and voice mirrored his own, there was an intangible uniqueness to his aura—something even duplicated plants or zombies could never replicate. The metallic tang of fresh blood clung to Nan Tingjian's presence, masking his true scent, but Qian Hui's intuition told him it was undeniably him.
Nan Tingjian remained motionless, his gaze dropping to Qian Hui like a blade. The boy's heart shattered. "You really don't remember…" he whispered, tears blurring his vision. Confusion twisted in his mind: If Nan Tingjian had forgotten him, would the Man-Eater Flower do the same? He bowed his head, shadows trembling beneath his lashes.
Without a word, Nan Tingjian severed the tension with a crash—the floating brick plummeting to the ground. He turned to leave, his silhouette fading into the ruins. Qian Hui's feet froze, torn between instinct and fear. "Is he still my boyfriend?" he muttered. The memory of Nan Tingjian's rejection stung, yet proximity to his powerful, unfamiliar self felt like the only sanctuary in this merciless world.
Distant groans of zombies drew Qian Hui's attention. Mid-tier zombies now prowled these ruins in greater numbers, their grotesque forms a constant threat. He glanced at Nan Tingjian's retreating figure, wondering if the man's slowed pace was exhaustion—or a flicker of vulnerability. "Follow carefully," he urged himself, maintaining a cautious distance as the duo navigated crumbling streets.
Along the way, Qian Hui distributed the five crystal cores to his plants: two to the injured chili, one and a half to Soft Vine and Mini Pak-Choi. The latter burped contentedly, nudging Qian Hui's palm with its leafy head. The game interface flashed—Mission 2 Completed: +500 Coins. New objectives appeared: "Eliminate 3 Mid-Tier Zombies" (0/3) and "Infiltrate Human Faction" (72% progress). His Alliance Score climbed to 5, Prestige remained at 0.
Qian Hui's Combat Power had surged to 100, though his plants' levels remained unchanged. Soft Vine's tendrils had sprouted another branch, and Mini Pak-Choi's dormant Skill now read "Incubating". He pondered the source of this power boost, his mind drifting as they encountered zombies. A lone low-tier zombie ambushed them, its movements sluggish. Chili launched searing seeds, Soft Vine ensnared its limbs, and Qian Hui drove his dagger home. "1000 Coins earned," the game chimed. The victory felt hollow without Nan Tingjian's recognition.
At noon, Nan Tingjian paused beneath a collapsed archway. Qian Hui hidden behind rubble, watched as the man fastidiously avoided food and water. His teammates were absent, their supplies depleted. Qian Hui hesitated, then divided his rations—sending Mini Pak-Choi on a stealth mission to deliver（biscuit） and water. The plant vanished, returning moments later to nudge his palm.
Later, a mid-tier zombie lunged, its claws elongated and vicious. Chili and Soft Vine collaborated to restrain it, but the fight left Soft Vine's branches gashed. Qian Hui bandaged its wounds with a defensive pill, his heart aching at their fragility.
Nightfall brought silence. Qian Hui nestled among the ruins, checking his inventory: 5,000+ Coins, ample supplies. Mini Pak-Choi's Skill finally activated—a dazzling burst of growth before collapsing back into sleep. He wondered how to deliver dinner to Nan Tingjian without alerting his companions.
Morning arrived with Nan Tingjian already vanished. Qian Hui pursued, relying on Soft Vine's speed. The man's factionmates soon spotted him—a gruff subordinate hurling a masonry block. Nan Tingjian's telekinetic intervention saved Qian Hui, but the cold stare that followed left no doubt: Stay hidden.
As Qian Hui slunk away, a sixth-member squad led by Liang Jie emerged. The man's chained Sensitive Plant sniffed the air, following a trail of scorched zombie flesh. Qian Hui's pulse quickened—That mutant chili was mine.